NATIONAL HUNT CHASE

The National Hunt Chase (Challenge Cup) is a novices' chase for amateur riders only.

Dating back to 1860, it was originally run at different venues across the UK each year.

Cheltenham has been its permanent home since 1911 and until 1965 the course still took runners behind the grandstand after a mile.

Known as the 'Amateur Riders Grand National', for many years it was second only in prestige to the National in the jumps racing calendar.

In fact, it wasn't until 1946 that prize money for the Cheltenham Gold Cup exceeded that of this historic race.

And it has produced future Grand National winners including Tiger Roll, plus Gold Cup winners like Native River (2nd in 2016). 

Often referred to colloquially as the 'four miler', for safety reasons the original 4-mile trip was reduced by 2 furlongs in 2020, after only 4 of the 18 starters finished in 2019.

Thus, the number of fences in the National Hunt Chase also decreased, from 25 to 23.

In 2022 the race was renamed the Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Chase in support of the Red Cross campaign.

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE TRENDS

Stamina is obviously still a key prerequisite, but experience counts too, with a large field almost guaranteed to face the starter.

The standard has undoubtedly increased in recent years, with the first and second placed horses in both 2021 and 2022 rated 150+.

You have to go back to the 2011, 2012 and 2013 renewals to find the last favourites to win, while the last outright favourite to oblige before them was Keep Talking in 1992.

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE 2024 ODDS

LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA

RECENT WINNERS

Patrick Mullins secured his third win in this amateur riders' contest in 2022, with Stattler producing a flying leap at the last and sauntering clear of an unusually small field.

It was also a third winner of the National Hunt Chase for owner Ronnie Bartlett - following Rathvinden (2018) and Galvin (2021).

Bartlett is chairman of the sponsor of Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Professional jockeys competed in 2021 due to Covid restrictions and Galvin was ridden by Jack Kennedy, who joked:

Jamie Codd won the National Hunt Chase for a third time in 2020, aboard Ravenhill:

Jamie Codd also won an attritional renewal aboard Le Breuil in 2019, a second Festival winner for trainer Ben Pauling:

Rathvinden won an engrossing duel with the mare Ms Parfois in 2018:

Meanwhile, in 2017 Tiger Roll collected the second of his five Cheltenham Festival wins:

Minella Rocco 2016

Cause Of Causes 2015

Midnight Prayer 2014

Back In Focus 2013

Jonjo O’Neill has trained a record six National Hunt Chase winners: Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler's Cabin (2007) & Minella Rocco (2016).

PREVIOUS WINNERS

NATIONAL HUNT CHASE FAQ’s

REFERENCES

1. Stevens, Peter (2010). History of the National Hunt Chase, 1860-2010